I just downloaded and installed a extension for FireFox that alerts when a Java Script is used in a web site or forum. It lets me block or allow the scripts. Most of the forums I subscribe to use anywhere from 1 to 8 scripts. I was surprised to see that this forum used 42 scripts on entering the forum. Since this is a possible way to cause problems with a computer, I wonder why such a great number of scripts are used?

sp -> RE: Java Scripts vulnerability on forum? (6/8/2005 6:40:03 PM)

Hello PatM

The number of scripts is not really important, as it is what they are really doing. Depending on the programming style of an author, the same functionality can be split into several code units.

JavaScript (JS) is the only way to make a page dynamic, so it is something we have to live with. Personally, I used to surf for several years with JS disabled, and I understand anyone whishing so. Unforunately, our latest site design uses a drop-down menu which requires JS on. Apart from this, all other major sections can be navigated without JS. I hope our next design will not require JS at all for the basic functionality.